[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 509 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 509

Recognizing the week of April 7, 2008, to April 13, 2008, as ``National 
                         Public Health Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 9, 2008

   Mr. Sanders (for himself, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Kerry, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. 
Menendez, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Leahy, and Mr. 
   Nelson of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the week of April 7, 2008, to April 13, 2008, as ``National 
                         Public Health Week''.

Whereas the week of April 7th, 2008, is National Public Health Week, and the 
        theme is ``Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance'';
Whereas, since 1996, the American Public Health Association, through its 
        sponsorship of National Public Health Week, has educated the public, 
        policy-makers, and public health professionals about issues important to 
        improving the public's health;
Whereas, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), climate change is a 
        significant and emerging threat to public health and the WHO estimates 
        that human-induced changes in the Earth's climate lead to at least 
        5,000,000 cases of illness and more than 150,000 deaths each year;
Whereas, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 
        climate change contributes to the global burden of disease, premature 
        death, and other adverse health impacts due to extreme weather events 
        and changes in infectious disease patterns, air quality, quality and 
        quantity of water and food, ecosystem changes, and economic impacts;
Whereas, according to the IPCC, the United States will be challenged by 
        increased heat waves, air pollution, and forest fires during the course 
        of the century, with potential risk for adverse health impacts, such as 
        heat stress and increases in asthma, allergies, and chronic obstructive 
        pulmonary disease;
Whereas the Director of the United States Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention, Dr. Julie Gerberding, testified, in October 2007, that, 
        ``Climate change is anticipated to have a broad range of impacts on the 
        health of Americans and the Nation's public health infrastructure'';
Whereas, according to the World Health Organization, the negative public health 
        impacts of climate change will likely disproportionately impact 
        communities that are already vulnerable;
Whereas these communities include developing countries, young children, the 
        elderly, people with chronic illnesses or otherwise compromised health, 
        people in underserved communities, communities of color, traditional 
        societies, subsistence farmers, and coastal populations;
Whereas it is estimated that more than 900,000,000 people worldwide live in 
        slum-like conditions and are particularly vulnerable to the possible 
        health impacts of climate change due to a lack of access to health care, 
        sanitation, and vulnerability to displacement;
Whereas future vulnerability to the health impacts of climate change will depend 
        not only on the degree of climate change the Earth experiences, but also 
        on development and adaptation measures; and
Whereas the public health system will be a first-line responder to emergency 
        conditions related to impacts of climate change and plays a key role in 
        informing, educating, and empowering local communities: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes ``National Public Health Week'';
            (2) recognizes the efforts of public health professionals, 
        first responders, States, municipalities, and local communities 
        to incorporate measures to adapt health care systems to address 
        impacts of climate change;
            (3) recognizes the role of adaptation in preventing impacts 
        of climate change on vulnerable communities, the potential for 
        improvement of health status and health equity through efforts 
        to address climate change, and the need to include health 
        policy in the development of climate responses;
            (4) encourages further research, interdisciplinary 
        partnership, and collaboration between stakeholders to 
        understand and monitor the health impacts of climate change, 
        for preparedness activities and for improvement of health care 
        infrastructure; and
            (5) encourages each and every American to learn about the 
        impacts of climate change on health.
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